- Vice-President urged resilient, inclusive and responsive economic policies at the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave
- He said economic resilience depends on social resilience, with no citizen, enterprise or region left behind
- Over 590 million Jan Dhan accounts opened by August 2026; GST registrations reached 16.5 million in May 2026
- Around 9.2 million Self-Help Groups cover more than 100 million rural women; 34.6 million Lakhpati Didis
- He said India shows democracy and development can advance together towards Viksit Bharat by 2047
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan opened the 5th Kautilya Economic Conclave in New Delhi. The theme was “Resilience in an Age of Flux.” He called for economic policies that are resilient, inclusive and quick to respond to rapid global change.
He told policymakers, economists, academics and business leaders that economic strength and social strength are linked. Policies, he said, must rest on ground realities and stay flexible as conditions shift.
Consensus and democracy
Radhakrishnan referred to the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), set up in 1952 under Professor V. K. R. V. Rao. He said the institute has stayed closely tied to India’s development journey.
In uncertain times, firm decisions need consensus behind them, he said. Debate is part of democracy, but it should end in decisions with wide acceptance. As Chairman of Rajya Sabha, he said open debate strengthens democracy and rights and duties must go together.
Reach of digital tools and women’s gains
He pointed to the JAM trinity, Direct Benefit Transfer and GST as tools that have widened financial inclusion, transparency and formalisation. More than 590 million Jan Dhan accounts had been opened by August 2026.
GST registrations rose from around 6.65 million in 2017 to 16.5 million in May 2026. Inclusion, he added, should let people earn, create value and start businesses.
He cited around 9.2 million Self-Help Groups reaching more than 100 million rural women. Over 34.6 million Lakhpati Didis have also emerged. Growing participation of women in education and the economy, he said, marks India’s shift from women’s empowerment to women-led development.
Resilience, he said, is built in villages too, when a woman opens a bank account, gets benefits directly and turns a Self-Help Group into an enterprise. He said more than 250 million Indians have moved out of extreme poverty, a historic achievement. Every State, district and village must be an equal partner in development, he added.
Research partnerships and the 2047 goal
He welcomed partnerships among the University of Delhi, Delhi School of Economics, London School of Economics and IEG. Such ties, along with India’s wider trade engagements, can strengthen research, education, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said India has shown that democracy and development can move forward together. Growth and inclusive progress have come within a democratic framework, and consensus has made reforms more durable. He said this gives a strong base for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Closing his address, he said India’s resilience will come from embracing change with confidence, inclusion and collective effort. He expressed confidence that the conclave would make a meaningful contribution to building a developed India by 2047.
IEG President, Board of Trustees, N. K. Singh, and Chairman, Board of Governors, IEG, Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra, were present along with other dignitaries.
